WELLINGTON, New Zealand, CMC– West Indies captain Darren Sammy has lamented the failure of his seamers to exploit favourable bowling conditions against New Zealand in the first and second test matches of their current three match series.
Sammy has expressed disappointment in his bowlers after his side suffered a crushing innings and 73 runs defeat against New Zealand on the third day of the second test at Basin Reserve yesterday.
The West Indies skipper has complained that his bowlers had the best conditions in both games and still allowed New Zealand to total 609 runs in their first innings in Dunedin and 441 runs in Wellington.
“So far we’ve got two grassy tops and …I think we’ve had the better part of the pitch on both occasions and we’ve not been able to get the wickets,” said Sammy.
“We’ve got to learn from the opposition. We are in their back yard and what they’re doing; I think it’s quite simple and basic.”
While the West Indies bowlers struggled the New Zealand seamers consistently undermined their batting led by Trent Boult who delivered career-best figures of 10 for 80 in the second test while Tim Southee took five wickets in that match.
“The seamers have got to get the wickets and we’ve not been able to do that. If you look at our pitch maps we will probably be scattered all over the place,” Sammy told reporters.
“If I look at the New Zealand bowlers they’ll be hitting that fuller, six-metre length more often than us which is where you tend to create most chances … and the New Zealand seamers have been getting wickets.”
West Indies were on the brink of defeat in the opening test match but clawed their way back to force a draw thanks to a double century from Darren Bravo and some inclement weather.
“I thought as a team we left Dunedin with confidence, especially the way we played to save the Test,” said Sammy.
“To come down here and lose 16 wickets in a day is very disappointing. The first Test we batted well in the second innings, this Test we barely faced 100 overs which is not good for any international side”.
New Zealand are in strong shape to win their first test series against a major cricketing nation since 2006, when they beat West Indies 2-0 in a three test series at home.
However the visitors will be hoping to level the series and Sammy has given a strong indication that the spinner Sunil Narine could be included in the final eleven for the third and final test which starts next Thursday in Hamilton.
“I guess we’ve found ourselves in these situations a few times. I believe we have the mettle in the dressing room to come back and keep remaining hungry because we value the fans back home,” said Sammy who has been involved in his fair share of West Indies batting collapses with back-to-back ducks in the second test.
“We’ve got to give them something to shout about. Christmas time is soon around the corner. It’s a time to be jolly so we’ve got to go down to Hamilton and give them a little Christmas gift.”
